Adapter for handling fluid under high pressure



June 26, 1956 J. P. E. GOULD 2,752,228

ADAPTER FOR HANDLING FLUID UNDER HIGH PRESSURE Filed July '7, 1952 r fez INVENTOR.

ADAPTER FOR HANDLING FLUID UNDER HIGH PRESSURE Jay P. E. Gould, La Canada, Calif.

Application July 7, 1952, Serial No. 297,588

8 Claims. (Cl. 73-422) This invention is concerned with an adapter for handling fluid under high pressure and it is a general object of the invention to provide a simple, practical and improved device applicable to or for use in connection with a vessel handling fluid under high pressure to facilitate gauging, sample taking, flowing, testing, etc.

There are various situations where fluid is handled under high pressure in a suitable vessel and where it is desired, on occasion, to flow a limited amount of fluid from the vessel, or to take a sample of fluid from the vessel, or to gauge the pressure prevailing in the vessel, or to handle a test specimen in the vessel, etc.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a device or adapter for use under various conditions such as those indicated and which is of simple, inexpensive,

dependable construction, while at the same time being effective and convenient to operate.

it is another object of this invention to provide an improved device of the general character referred to involving, generally, a tubular base section applicable to a vessel carrying fluid under pressure, and a core threaded to the base section to project therefrom and operable between a position where it stops flow through the base section and a position where fluid or pressure is freely communicated through the base section.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device of the general character referred to which is of simple, practical construction, employing a hard, effective packing to hold pressure when the structure is in the closed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure of the general character referred to including a mounting means in connection with the core and serving to securely and dependably hold a test specimen, or the like, exposed in the vessel to which the structure is attached.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the general character referred to in which a core retaining means is incorporated, serving to retain the core in the base against accidental separation therefrom.

The device of the present invention is adapted to be used on or in connection with a vessel having an opening providing access to the interior thereof, which vessel carries fluid under pressure. In the case of application of the invention to a well, the vessel may be a well head, or the like, whereas in another typical situation the vessel may be a fluid handling duct or pipe, and it is this type of vessel that is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Where the vessel is a fluid handling pipe the access opening may be in one side of the pipe and a laterally projecting boss may be provided at the exterior of the pipe in communication with the access opening. The boss serves as a mounting handling the device of the present inventron.

In a typical situation the device of the present invention involves a tubular base having an inner end threaded to the boss or to a like part of the pressure handling vessel. At the outer or projecting end the base has a connecting means adapted to receive a pipe, a coupling or other accessory equipment such as a valve or any special equipment desired for operating the device of the present invention. In a typical situation threads are provided on the exterior of the outer end portion of the base. The base has a flow passage entering it from its inner end and a bore enters it from its outer end forming a socket. The socket is larger in diameter than the flow passage and an outwardly facing seat occurs between the socket and the flow passage. A thread may be provided in the outer portion of the socket while the inner portion of the socket is plain so that it has a smooth, cylindrical wall.

The device includes a core carried in the base and having a body externally threaded to be engaged in the threaded portion of the socket opening provided in the base. A stem of reduced diameter is provided at the inner end of the body and a head adapted to engage the seat is provided on the stem base. A sealing means is carried by the body to slidably engage in the smooth cylindrical portion of the socket and a sealing means is provided between the head of the core and the seat of the body and is preferably an annular unit of hard packing. To facilitate incorporation of the annular hard packing in the head the head is separable from the stem and the packing unit is confined between the detachable head and the end of the stern. A retainer is provided on the base and may be in the form of a collar threaded on the exterior of the base and having a flange-like lip overlying the outer end of the core, so that the core can only move a limited amount longitudinally of the base.

A flow passage is provided through the core and includes a chamber entering the core from its outer end and a port extending from the chamber to the stem where it opens at the exterior of the core between the two packing means. A tool receiving projection is provided at the outer end of the core and is internally threaded for the reception of a pipe, a gauge, or other such equipment, as circumstances may require.

A mounting means is provided on the core at its inner end to carry an accessory in the vessel to which the structure is attached. The mounting means may involve a projection on the head adapted to carry the particular accessory required. In a typical case the accessory may be a fluid or pressure handling duct opening into the vessel or it may be in the nature of a specimen desired to be exposed in the vessel for test purposes, or the like. In the case of an accessory for receiving flow or pressure a port may be provided through the projection supporting the accessory and a port may be provided in the core so that such fluid or pressure is communicated into the chamber of the core. When this structure is employed a valve such as a needle valve, or the like, can be provided to control flow into the chamber. When the accessory is in the nature of a test specimen it may be insulated from the supporting projection by a liner of suitable insulating material and it may be tightly clamped in place by means of set screws, or the like, carried by the supporting projection.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pressure handling vessel in the form of a duct or pipe, showing two units provided by the present invention carried by the pipe, each of the units having a gauge connected thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged, detailed, sectional view through a unit embodying the invention, being a view taken as indicated by line 2--2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, showing a somewhat difierent form of construction embodying the invention. Fig. 4 is an enlarged, detailed sectional view of the tip portion of an accessory such as may be carried by the device of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the body element of the core employed in carrying out the invention. Fig. 6 is a plan section taken as indicated by line 6-6 on Fig. 3.

The adapter provided by the present invention can be used to advantage under various conditions or for various purposes and it can be used on or in connection with pressure handling vessels of various kinds. To illustrate but one simple and typical situation, the pressure handling vessel A is shown in the form of a duct or pipe. it is to be understood that such vessel can handle any suitable fluid, either a gas or a liquid, and may be such as to handle such fluid at a very high pressure. In the case illustrated the duct is provided'w'ith a lateral access opening 10, and a laterally projecting boss lllis provided on the pipe for carrying the adapter of the present invention so that it isin communication with the access opening 10. The boss 11.is shown as forming an extension of the access opening and its outer end portion is internally threaded at 12 to receive the device of the present invention.

The structure provided by the present invention involves, generally, a tubular base B, a core C carried by the base, a retainer D limiting movement of the core relative to the base, and sealing means E and F sealing between the core and base, the sealing means E being such as to remain engaged at all times while the core and base are assembled, while the sealing means F is such that it can be moved into and out of operating position. The present invention further provides a mounting means G for an accessory and serves to support such accessory in the vessel or pipe A, or at least open to the interior of the vessel.

The base is an elongate tubular part with an inner end end portion adapted to be connected to the vessel A, as through the boss 11 on the vessel. In the case illustrated the inner end portion 20 of the base is externally threaded to thread into the boss 11, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. Theouter end portion 22 of the base projects from or beyond the boss 11 and is provided with coupling means by which connection may be made with other parts or equipment, say, for instance, with a pipe line, with a valve or with special tools or equipment to be used in connection with the device of the present invention, as circumstances require. In the case illustrated a thread 23 is provided on the exterior of the outer end portion 22 and this portion of the base is shown as normally carrying the retainer D hereinafter described.

An opening extends through the base B from one end to the other and is formed by a flow passage entering the base from its inner end and a socket opening 31 entering the base from its outer end. The socketopening 31 is considerably larger in diameter than the flow passage 30 and these parts are connected intermediate the ends of the base by a seat 32. In the case illustrated the seat 32 is tapered or conical in form. The outer end portion of the socket opening 31 is provided with a thread to receive or cooperate with the core, as will be hereinafter described, whereas the inner end portion of the socket is plain so that it presents a smooth cylindrical wall 35 adjoining the seat 32.

The core C is an elongate element having a body portion entered in the socket of the base and a head 41 carried on the inner end of the body by means of a stem 42. The body portion 40 of the core is substantially coextensive with the socket opening provided in the base and its outer portion 45 is threaded to screw thread into the threaded'outer portion of the-socket opening in the base. The inner end portion 46 of the body 40 is a plain turned part finished to slidably engage in the cylindrical portion 35 of the socket.

The stem '42 is somewhat smaller in diameter than the body and projects from the inner endof the b'odyto support the head 41 so that the head cooperates with or engages the seat 32 in the base When the plug is in the in or closed position.

A tool receiving part or projection 48 is provided on and projects from the outer end of the body 40, as shown in the drawings. The projection 48 projects beyond the outer end of the base and is polygonal in cross-sectional configuration to be received by a socket wrench, or other such operating tool.

The sealing means E provided between the core and the base is preferably carried by the core and serves to maintain sealing engagement between the core and the base. In the case illustrated the sealing means E is in the form of a sealing ring carried in a suitable groove 5t provided in the plain turned inner portion 46 of the core body 4%. The sealing ring is preferably of the type commonly known as an 0 ring, and has sliding engagement with the cylindrical wall 35 at the inner portion of the socket provided in the base and protects the interengaged threads on the base and core from pressure fluid.

The sealing means F provided between the core and the base is preferably carried by the core and in accordance with the present invention it is carried between the head 41 of the core and the stem 42 thereof. In the preferred construction the sealing means F involves an annular element or unit of hard packing material, it being preferred, in practice, where high pressures are to be handled, to employ a sealing material that is substantially rigid and which is not subject to flexure or deformation such as occurs when soft packing, or the like, is used.

To facilitate application of the annular unit of hard packing to the core, the head 41 of the core is made separable from the stem, and in the case illustrated an externally threaded central tip 53 is provided on the stem 42 of the core and the head 41'is threaded into the tip and is provided with a recess 54 adjacent the stem into which the annular unit of hard packing is seated. When the head 41 is in operating position its end 55 abuts the end of the stem and the'annular unit of hard packing is firmly held between the head and the stem, as shown in the drawings.

With the construction just described the head 41, which is rigid with the body 40 of the core, provides a metal seat or engagement between the core and the base, at the same time that the hard'packing unit of means F provides a fluid tight seal between the core and the base. In the case illustrated the stem has an edge 42 that engages the seat so the packing unit is effectively confined to the core. In practice it is preferred that the pitch 'of the threads connecting the head '41 and the stern be opposite to the pitch of the threads connecting the body 40 and the base. In most cases an ordinary righthand thread is employed connecting the body '40 and the base, whereas a lefthand thread is employed'to connect the head 41 and the stem. With this relationship of parts a tight seating of the packing against the seat can be broken by backing the core outward in the base without danger of the head unscrewing from the stem.

In accordance with the invention the core is provided to handle pressure or fluid and in the case illustrated a chamber 66 enters the core from its outer end and is substantially coextensive with the body portion of the core. A port 61 connects the chamber 60 with the'exterior of the stem 42 of the core to provide a lateral opening from the chamber 60. In practice a plurality of ports 61 is provided, as shown in the drawings. With this construction, when the core is in the in or seated position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, fiuid or pressure from vessel A is stopped at the point where the sealing means F occurs, whereas when the core is moved to an open position, that is, when it is turned so that the sealing means F is spaced from the seat 32, fluid or pressure is free to pass the seat, enter the port 61, and enter the chamber 60. Escape of fluid "between the core and base is checked or stopped by the presence of the sealing means E. The fluid or pressure admitted to the chamber 60 may be handled by any desired piping, fittings, gauges, etc., applied to the projection 48.

The retainer D is provided to limit the movement of the core relative to the base. Ordinarily a few turns of the core is all that is needed to move it between open and closed positions, and it is desirable that the structure be limited to such movement of the core relative to the base. The retainer D illustrated in the drawings involves a collar 65 threaded onto the outer end portion of the base, which collar has an inwardly projecting flange-like lip 66 that overlies the outer end of the core. The lip 66 is normally spaced outwardly from the outer end of the core far enough to allow for the desired outward movement or" the core relative to the base. It is to be observed, however, that the projecting tool-receiving portion 48 of the core projects beyond the flanged collar 65 so that it is accessible and can be easily and conveniently engaged by a wrench or other operating tool.

The mounting means G provided to carry an accessory or equipment auxiliary to that hereinabove described is provided on and projects from the head end of the core and, in practice, it may be varied depending upon the accessory that it supports.

In the case illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings the accessory is in the form of a test element or specimen S adapted to be located in the vessel so that it is exposed to the fluid carried thereby. The test specimen S is shown as having a projecting shank portion 70 carried in a U-shaped recess 71 provided in the projection 72 forming the means G. The projection 72 is provided on and projects from the head 41 of the core and passes through the inner end portion of the base with clearance. In the particular case illustrated a liner 74 of insulating material, such as a non-metallic insulator, separates the test specimen S from the supporting projection 72, and a plurality of set screws 75 is carried by the projection 72. The screws are set against the shank 70 of the specimen to hold it firmly in place in the U-shaped opening 71. Through the construction just described a specimen S of any suitable material can be mounted so that it is exposed in the vessel A to be acted upon by fluid in the vessel in a manner to give information as to the corrosive or other action of the material in the vessel, independent of other parts and equipment.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings the accessory or auxiliary handled by the mounting G is in the nature of a duct 80 which projects into the vessel A where it is open to the interior of the vessel. The duct is such as to communicate pressure or to conduct fluid from the vessel A and is shown as being in communication with a port 81 that extends through the supporting projection 72*. The port 81 is in communication with a port 83 that extends through the head and opens itno the chamber 60 so that the chamber 60 and port 83 constitute a bore extending longitudinally through the core.

In the case illustrated a valve in the form of a needle valve 86 engageable with a seat in the chamber 60 is provided to control passage of fluid from port 83 to chamber 60, and the valve has a threaded head 87 carried in an opening 88 extending at an angle to the axis of the core in the outer end portion of the body 41 of the core. The head 87 of the valve has a socket opening and is accessible from the outer end of the body 40 so that the valve can be opened and closed, as conditions require. When the valve 87 is open pressure from the interior of vessel A is communicated directly to chamber 60 and to equipment such as a pressure measuring device or gauge 90 carried by the core in communication with the chamber 60, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The valve 87 is used to advantage when it is required to have continuous flow to the chamber 60 and allows the core to remain tightly seated with the base.

If it is desired to take a sample of fluid a suitable fluid receiving duct can be connected to the core, as for instance, to the outer end portion or" the core, or to the projection 48, as will be apparent from Fig. 2 of the drawings. If it is merely necessary to determine the pressure of fluid in vessel A the valve 86 can be operated merely to allow communication of pressure to a gauge mounted as indicated in the drawings.

In employing the present invention two units constructed in accordance with the invention can be connected in a flow handling vessel A, as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and the tip 95 of the duct projecting into the vessel A may be a member having a restricted flow passage in the form of a venturi tube having the port 81 extending therefrom, as shown in Fig. 4, in which case differential pressure readings can be obtained on gauges provided on or in communication with the two units of the invention, to the end that the rate of flow can be readily ascertained. It is to be understood that the flow of fluid and pressure thereof will be stopped while the structure of the present invention is assembled or disassembled.

In practice an indicating means is provided so that the position of a duct, a specimen, or other element carried by the core relative to the vessel can be readily ascertained. I have shown a marker on the exposed portion of the plug in a definite position relative to the tip or projection or means G on the plug.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A device applicable to a pressure carrying vessel having a wall with an aperture through it including, a tubular base, means to releasably mount the base on the vessel at the exterior thereof and in communication with the aperture, there being a seat in the base, a core threaded in the base from the outer end thereof and operable relative thereto toward and from the seat and having means engageable with the seat to close the base, and a projection on the core at the inner end thereof adapted to support an element exposed to the interior of the vessel.

2. A device applicable to a pressure carrying vessel having a wall with an aperture through it including, a tubular base, means adapted to releasably mount the base on the vessel at the exterior thereof and in communication with the aperture, there being a seat in the base, a core threaded in the base from the outer end thereof and operable relative thereto toward and from the seat and having means engageable with the seat to close the base, an element adapted to be subjected to conditions within the vessel, and a projection on the core at the inner end thereof supporting said element whereby it is exposed to the interior of the vessel when the base is mounted on the vessel.

3. A device applicable to a pressure carrying vessel having a wall with an aperture through it including, an elongate base with inner and outer end portions, mounting means at the inner end portion of the base adapted to secure the base to said wall with the base in communication with said aperture, the base having an opening through it including a flow passage at the inner end portion of the base adapted to communicate with said aperture-and having a socket in its outer end portion, there being a seat in the base between the passage and socket, a core with a body threaded in the socket, a tool receiving portion projecting beyond the outer end of the body and a stem at the inner end of the body carrying a head having means adapted to cooperate with the seat, there being a chamber in the body of the core entering it through the tool receiving portion and there being a port in the core connecting the chamber and the exterior of the core at thestem, a sealing ring on the body normally maintain-t ing sealing engagement between the core and base, and a member carried by the stern of the core and projecting beyond the inner end of the core and adapted to be exposed to conditions in the vessel when the base is mounted thereon and the core is in the base.

4. A device applicable to a pressure carrying vessel having a wall with an aperture therethrough comprising a tubular base adapted to be mounted on said vessel in communication with said aperture, said base having a seat intermediate its ends, a core threaded into said base and having packing means adjacent its inner end engageable with said seat, said core having a longitudinally extending bore therethrough provided with means at its outer end to receive a pressure measuring device and a lateral opening outwardly of said packing means, ann a member secured to the inner end of said core and adapted to extend into said vessel and having means at its inner end provided with a restricted flow passage and a port extending from said flow passage to said longitudinal bore, whereby the pressure of the fluid in said vessel at said flow passage may be measured when said packing means engages said seat and the static pressure of said fluid may be measured when said packing means is disengaged from said seat.

5. A device according to claim 4, in which said member is provided at its inner end with venturi tube means forming said restricted flow passage.

6.:A;device accordingto .claim;4, in lVhiCh2SflidiCOf carries a-valve member fdr' closing said-port.

7. A device according to claim 4, inwhich a valve member istthreaded into said core at an angle from the outer end-of saidcore; and said core has a valve seat in said bore inwardly from said lateral opening, said seat being engageable by said valve member to close said port.

8. A device-according to claim 4, in which said core is provided with sealing means in engagement with said base and located between said lateral Opening and the interengaged threads on the base-and core to protect said threads from pressure fluid when saidpacking means is disengaged from said seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES. PATENTS 790,888 Ferris May 30, 1905 916,163 .lettinger Mar. 23, 1909 974,515 Patton Nov. 1, 1910 1,089,129 Havill Mar. 3, 1914 1,828,170 Bristol Oct. 20, 1931 1,841,908 Noble Jan. 19, 1932 1,938,984 Smith Dec. 12, 1933 2,274,541 Fontana Feb. 24, 1942 2,525,617 Phillips Oct. 10, 1950 2,640,497 Reeve June 2, 1953 2,697,582 Grosch Dec. 21, 1954 

4. A DEVICE APPLICABLE TO A PRESSURE CARRYING VESSEL HAVING A WALL WITH AN APERTURE THERETHROUGH COMPRISING A TUBULAR BASE ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON SAID VESSEL IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID APERATURE, SAID BASE HAVING A SEAT INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS, A CORE THREADED INTO SAID BASE AND HAVING PACKING MEANS ADJACENT ITS INNER END ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID SEAT, SAID CORE HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING BORE THERETHROUGH PROVIDED WITH MEANS AT ITS OUTER END TO RECEIVE A PRESSURE MEANSURING DEVICE AND A LATERAL OPENING OUTWARDLY OF SAID PACKING MEANS, AND A MEMBER SECURED TO THE INNER END OF SAID CORE AND ADAPTED TO EXTEND INTO SAID VESSEL AND HAVING MEANS AT ITS INNER END PROVIDED WITH A RESTRICTED FLOW PASSAGE AND A PORT EXTENDING FROM SAID FLOW PASSAGE TO SAID LONGITUDINAL BORE, WHEREBY THE PRESSURE OF THE FLUID IN SAID VESSEL AT SAID FLOW PASSAGE MAY BE MEASURED WHEN SAID PACKING MEANS ENGAGES SAID SEAT AND THE STATIC PRESSURE OF SAID FLUID MAY BE MEASURED WHEN SAID PACKING MEANS IS DISENGAGED FROM SAID SEAT. 